in 


g 


P^G^GATpOLlG     ' 

historical  Researches. 


«<  JULY,  18SO.  0* 


CONTENTS. 


Correspondence  of  M.  A.  Frenaye 

Early  Converts  of  Brownsville,  Pa. 

John  Gray   Als  John  Tatham. 

Establishment   of  the  Ursulines  at 
Kaskaskia,  Illinois.  1833. 
I?  1  Traveler    Smith's   Account   of  the 
Catholics  of  Maryland  in  1784. 

The  Pope  us  President  of  the  U.  S. 

Bishop  Con  well's  thanks  to  Contrib- 
utors "to  his  Natural  Support." 

Extract  from  a  Sermon  Preached  at 
St.  Mary's  Church,  Philadelphia, 
Sunday,  August  20th,  1790,  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Keating. 

Rev.  Ferdinand  Farmer,  S.  T-,  a 
Priest  of  Pennsylvania,  1752-S6. 


13- 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

I  19. 


Funeral  Sermon  on  the  Death  of 
Rev.  Ferdinand  Farmer,  who  De- 
part* d  this  Life  the  17th  of  August, 
17S6,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age. 
By  the  Rev.  Robert  Molyneux. 
On  the  Anniversary  of  our  Lord.  1786 
N.Carolir^anotanenemyofoiu-FaitJi     .fi 


ivpn 


Papists  and  Quakers  Obstacles  to 
Episcopalianism  in  Maryland. 

Rev.  John  Ricco,  Cigar  Maker  in 
Philad'a,  and  Planter  in  Alabama. 

Funeral  Expenses  of  Stephen  Girard 

The  Missions  of  California. 

Historical  Notes. 

Where  to  Find  it. 

Who  Knows. 


-^I<?UBIjISHED#AND#€DIJITED^ 

BY 


No.    711    SANSpM     STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA. 

V 


zap* 


RECORDS 

OF  THE 

American  Gatholic  Historical  Siciti 

OF 

PHILADELPHIA. 

Vol.  II. 

Price     -  $2.00. 

CONTENTS. 

Preface  (by  the  Editor) Pag   ? 

Introduction  (by  the  Recording  Secretary) r1 

Papers  Read   at  Public  Meetings  :  J 

Sketch  of  the  Abenaquis  Mission  (Rev.  James  J.  Brie,  S.  J.) 
The  Early  Registers  of  the  Catholic  Church    in  Pennsylvania       }. 


3* 


(Philip  S.  P.  Conner) 
Rev   Louis  Barth,  by  Rev.  Jules  C.  Foin 
The  Centenary  of  the  Adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  g 

United  States,  Rev.  Dr.  Horstmann's  Address 

Our  Nation's  Glory,  Poem  by  Miss  Eleanor  C.  Donnelly. . . 
Thomas  FftzSimons,  Pennsylvania's  Catholic  Signer  of  the 

Constitution,  by  Martin  I.  J.  Griffin 5 

Catholic  Choirs  and  Choir  Music  in  Philadelphia,  Michael 

Cross i  5 

Catholicity  in  South-Eastern,  Lee  County,  Iowa  by  Rev.  <> 

John  F.  Kempker 12! 

Sketches  of  Catholicity  in  Texas,  Very  Rev  C.  Jaillet,  V.  G.  14; 

Father  Louis  della  Vagna,  bv  H.  F.  Mcintosh 15. 

The  Origin  of  the  Flathead  Mission,  MajorEdmond  Mallet, 

LL.  B 16. 

History  of  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Succor, 

Boston,  Rev.  Charles  W.  Currier,  C.  SS.  R 2o( 

List  of  Baptisms  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Philadelphia,  1 776-1781,       225 

Father  Farmer's  Marriage  Register,  ^59-1786, '.         276 

Father  Schneider's  Goshenhoppen  Registers,  1741-1764, 316 

Department  of  Genealogies  : 

The  Esling  Genealogy, 333 

The  Sehner  Family ." 367 

Kelly-Hendry  Families, 366 

Reports  ; 

The  Library  and  its  Benfactors,  F.  X.  Reuss 374 

Rules  for  the  Government  of  the  Library, 381 

Public  Meetings 383 

Alphabetical  List  of  Members  of  the  Society, 386 ' 

Obituary, 389 

Alphabetical  Index, 391 

Send  orders  to 

MARTIN  I.  J.  GRIFFIN. 

711  SANSONI  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA. 


( 


- 

NORTH  CAROLINA  NOT  AN  ENEMY   OP  OUR  FAITH.  129 

NORTH  CAROLINA  NOT  AN  ENEMY  OF  OUR  FAITH. 

It  has  often  been  declared,  and  the  weight  of  eminent  authority  among 
Catholics  has  been  given  to  the  statement,  that  North  Carolina  at  the  time 
of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  tlie  United  States  and  the  inaugura- 
tion of  Washington  as  President,  was,  by  its  Constitution,  inimical  to  the 
Catholic  Church  and  that  it  debarred  Catholics  from  holding  office,  that  thus 
"the  old  bigotry"  was  continued  in  legal  enactment. 

An  examination  into  the  facts  shows  this  denunciation  of  North  Caro- 
lina to  be  unjust. 

The  Constitution  of  North  Carolina,  adopted  in  177G,  in  its  32d  Article 
declared  "No  person  who  denies  the  truth  of  Protestant  religion  or  the 
Divine  anthority  either  of  the  Old  or  New  Testament  or  who  shall  hold 
Religious  principles  incompatible  with  the  freedom  and  safety  of  the  State 
shall  be  capable  of  holding  any  office  or  place  of  trust  or  profit  in  the  Civil 
Department  of  this  State." 

The  eminent  Judge  Gaston,  a  Catholic,  in  the  debates  in  the  Convention 
of  1835  revising  the  Constitution,  shows  that  the  Article  of  the  Constitution 
of  1776  was  not  regarded  as  applying  solely  to  Catholics  as  a  restriction.  He 
said  in  the  Convention  of  1835:  "One  informs  us  that  it  excludes  nobody,  that 
it  cannot  be  interpreted  to  exclude  anybody,  that  for  want  of  tribunal  to  en- 
force and  expound  it  the  entire  provision  is  a  dead  letter,  as  if  it  had  never 
been  embodied  in  the  instrument.  Another  thinks,  that  it  clearly  excludes 
Atheists  and  such  Deists  as  make  a  parade  of  their  infidelity  by  proclaiming 
the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  false.  A  third  believes  that  it  disqualifies  Atheists, 
Deists  and  Jews—  for  that  the  latter  necessarily  deny  the  Diviue  authority 
of  the  New  Testament  and  Deists  deny  the  Divine  authority  of  both  the 
New  and  Old  Testament.  A  fourth  supposes  that  these  are  excluded  and 
that  it  was  intended  also  to  excluded  Catholics,  but  that  the  language  is  not 
sufficient  explicit  to  warrant  a  judicial  exposition  to  that  effect.  A  fifth 
holds  that  it  was  not  only  intended  to  exclude,  but,  by  legal  construction 
does  excludes  them.  A  sixth  is  satisfied  that  Quakers,  Memnonists  and 
Dunkards  are  disqualified,  because  their  doctrine,  that  arms  cannot  be  law- 
fully used  in  the  defence  of  the  country  is  subversive  of  its  very  freedom  and 
repugnant  to  its  safety." 

Again  he  said  :  "It  is  obvious  that  the  term  "den;/"  does  not  exclude 
those  he  merely  doubt,  nor  even  those  who  disbelieve  unless  that  disbelief 
be  accompanied  by  some  overt  act  of  negation  of  its  truth.     To  deny  is  the 


130  AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  HISTORICAL   RESEARCHES. 

reverse  of  affirm,  not  of  Belief.  Many  considerations  of  propriety  and  of 
decency  may  induce  an  individual  to  forbear  from  denying  that  of  which  he 
has  not  seen  sufficient  evidence,  or  to  which  he  cannot  yield  his  assent,  or 
that  which,  on  the  whole,  he  disbelieves." 

Again,     "Who  shall  say  judicially  what  is  the  Protestant  religion.1' 

Richard  Caswell  President  of  the  Convention  which  adopted  the  Con- 
stitution of  1776  "migrated  to  North  Carolina  from  the  colony  of  Lord 
Baltimore ;  that  was  a  colony  of  Catholics."  It  was  stated,  but  denied, 
that  "he  was  the  offspring  of  Catholic  parents  and  had  been  brought  up  in 
the  religious  faith  of  his  ancestors,"  who  had  "found  an  asylum  in  a 
Catholic  colony  and  it  was  the  place  of  his  birth."  He  was  Governor  of 
North  Carolina  in  1777,-8-9. 

Thomas  Burke,  a  Catholic,  was  one  of  the  framers  of  the  Constitution 
of  1776  and  was  a  Delegate  in  Congress  from  that  State  from  1777  to  June 
1780.  He  was  of  Irish  descent.  "Glowing  with  the  love  of  liberty,  he 
rallied  under  the  banner  of  Freedom  and  fought  the  battles  of  the  Revolu- 
tion as  an  officer  of  North  Carolina.  He  publicly  professed  and  openly 
avowed  the  Catholic  faith.  He  took  the  oath  of  office  and  swore  to  support, 
maintain  and  defend  the  Constitution.  Those  who  framed  the  Constitution 
called  a  Catholic  to  administer  it"  Catholics  have  been  members  of  tthe 
General  Assembly. 

That  the  32d  Article  did  not  exclude  Catholics  "has  been  settled  by 
the  decision  of  every  department  of  the  Government  and  has  been  sanction- 
ed by  the  people. 

Judge  Gaston,  "a  distinguished  member  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion of  1835,  publicly  professing  and  openly  avowing  the  doctrines  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  has  been  recently  appointed'by  the  General  Assembly  to 
one  of  the  highest  judicial  stations  in  the  State. 

Profoundly  learned  in  the  law,  and  eminently  skilled  in  the  solution  of 
constitutional  questions ;  of  irreproachable  character  and  fastidiously 
scrupulous  in  matters  of  conscience  ;  of  retired  habits,  not  seeking  but  de- 
clining office,  he  accepted  the  appointment  in  obedience  to  the  public  will 
and  took  the  oaths  of  office,  swearing  to  support  the  Constitution.  The 
Executive  signs  and  issues  the  Commission.  The  Supreme  Court  receives 
it  and  permits  the  officer  to  take  his  seat  on  the  bench  and  exercise  the 
highest  judicial  function.— [From  address  of  Mr.  Fisher  in  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1835.1 


NORTH   CAROLINA  NOT  AN  ENEMY  OF  OUR    FAITH.  131 

"One  thing  is  certain,  from  the  commencement  of  the  government  to 
this  day,  it  never  has  been  brought  to  bear  against  the  Catholics— for  we 
have  seen  every  grade  of  oflice  in  the  State,  from  Governor  down  to  Con- 
stable, at  onetime  or  another  filled  by  men  of  Catholic  persuasion."—  [p.  327 
Debate  of  Convention  at  Raleigh  1835.  | 

A  Mr.  Mason  referred  to  the  fears  of  some  that  the  Roman  Catholic 
would  overrun  the  country.  They  might  do  it  but  he  did  not  think 
halfas  probable  as  that  a  mouse  would  kill  a  buffalo.  Let  them  come.  He 
would  lay  a  wager  that  the  Protestants  converted  two  to  the  Catholics  one. 

Mr.  Wilson  of  Perquimons  said  of  Gaston.  "The  man  to  whom 
public  opinion  has  given  pre-eminence  in  this  State  and  rightfully  too,  has 
been  for  the  last  thirty  years  a  conscientious  member  of  a  body  of  Christians 
few  in  number  and  proscribed  in  this  State." — p.  394. 

There  was  vigorous  opposition  in  the  Convention  and  throughout  the 
State  to  making  any  change  in  the  Constitution  but  "Protestant"  was 
stricken  out  and  '■'■Christian'1''  substituted.  The  Committee  so  reported  on 
July  4th  1S35.  It  was  adopted  by  vote  of  74  to  51,  The  revised  Constitu- 
tion was  adopted  by  popular  majority  of  5,165.  Judge  Gaston's  county 
(Craven)  voted  131  to  270  against. 

Governor  Thomas  Burke  a  Catholic,  one  of  the  framers  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  1776  was  also  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  from  May  1777 
to  June  178U  when  he  was  elected  Governor. 

The  Researches  is  the  first  Catholic  publication  to  record  the  fact 
that  a  Catholic  from  North  Carolina  was  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress  and  Governor  of  the  State. 

On  September  13th  1781  he  was  captured  by  the  Tories  at  Hillsboro. 
"The  studied  indignites  with  which  Governor  Burke  was  treated  was  alone 
to  be  devised  by  the  malicious  tyrant  who  disgraced  the  name  of  Britain  in 
the  slow  tortues  he  could  devise  for  the  best  men  of  America." — Moore's 
His.  N.  C.  Vol.  I.  p.  328.) 

He  was  held  as  hostage  for  Lord  Rawdon  who  on  his  way  to  England 
was  captured  by  a  French  vessel.  —  [Schenck's  North  Carolina  1780-1  p.445,1 

In  January  1782  he  escaped  from  "studied  insult  and  hardship."  "The 
man  thus  foully  and  inhumanly  tortured  was  a  high  souled  and  courteous 
gentleman.  He  had  filled  for  years  the  highest  places  of  trust  in  America 
and  was  Governor  of  a  great  State.  He  was  used  to  the  respect  and  almost 
adultation  of  Society  where  his  culture  and  winning  manners  made  him 
universally  beloved.— (Moore's  His.  p.  340.) 


s0 
U 


132  AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   HISTORICAL   RESEARCHES. 

"He  died  a  few  day  before  Christmas  1784  and  there  was  much  regret 
at  his  untimely  death.  He  was  an  able  and  versatile  man  and  was  greatly 
missed  in  legal  and  social  circles." 

William  Gaston,  eminent  as  a  Catholic  in  the  history  of  our  country, 
was  in  1805  Speaker  of  the  House  of  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  leader  of  the  bar  of  the  State. 
In  1815  he  was  elected  a  Eepreseutative  in  Congress.  In  1827  "the  stately 
and  illustrious  William  Gaston,"  as  Historian  Moore,  speaks  of  him,  was 
again  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 

In  1833  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State. 
"Few  human  tribunals  have  embodied  so  much  learning,  dignity  and  worth 
sa  were  then  exemplified  in  the  persons  of  the  beneh  of  that  Court." — 
(Moore's  His.  p.  37) 

During  all  these  years  the  Constitutional  provision  of  1 776  debarring  from 
oSice  any  one  "who  denied  the  truth  of  the  Protestant  religion"  was  in 
force. 

It  is  true  however  that  bigots  in  North  Carolina  and  elsewhere  insisted 
that  Gaston  was  a  perjurer  by  taking  the  oath  of  office. 

Rev.  II.  J.  Breckenridge  issued  an  Address  to  the  American  People  in 
which  he  so  asserted.  It  was  published  in  many  papers  in  1835-36.  Corne- 
lius C.  Baldwin,  Editor  of  the  Lexington  (Va.)  Gazette  refused  to  publish 
Breckenridge's  Address  and  in  the  issue  of  May  6th  1836  he  made  a  defence 
of  his  refusal. — {Catholic  Herald,  May,  1836.) 

On  the  matter  of  acceptance  of  the  Judgeship  Gaston  said  "On  a  ques- 
tion where  I  was,  above  all,  solicitous  to  have  a  clean  conscience,  I  was  not 
governed  by  my  own  views  on  it  but  by  the  ablest  assistance  that  I  could  obtain 
and  that  1  was  confirmed  in  these  conclusions  by  tne  highest  legal  authori- 
ties both  within  and  without  the  State.  My  course  appeared  a  plain  one 
and  therefore  I  did  not  hesitate  to  pursue  it.  I  shall  be  gratified  if  my 
country  apppove  of  what  I  have  done— but  whether  it  does  or  not  I  have 
the  consolation  that  on  mature  reflection  my  conscience  does  not  re- 
prove me  for  taking  the  office  which  the  country,  with  a  full  knowledge 
of  all  the  circumstances,  thought  proper  to  offer  me."  Again  he  said  "I 
pity  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  the  poor  creature  who  hankers  after  office. 
There  is  not  one  which  this  people  cau  give  that  I  would  turn  on  my  heel 
to  obtain."    "The  office  sought  the  man  not  the  man  the  office." 

So  a  consideration  of  the  facts  in  the  case  of  North  Carolina  would  seem 
to  show,  that  we  Catholics  have  accepted  as  truth  the  declaration  of  unin- 
formed opponents  of  our  faith,  that  Catholics  were  excluded  from  office  by  a 
declaration  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State  and  that  such  as  took  office  did 
so  contrary  to  the  Constitution,  and  so  must  have  ceased  to  be  Catholics. 
But  during  the  whole  period  it  is  shown  that  Catholics,  as  faithful  as  Judge 
Gaston,  of  whom  it  has  been  said  that  it  is  doubtful  if  he  ever  committed  a 
mortal  sin,  held  office.  They  did  not  '■'•deny  the  truth  of  the  Protestant 
religion."    They  disbelieved  its  errors.  MARTIN  I.J.  GRIFFIN. 


PAPISTS  AND    QUAKERS   IN   MARYLAND.  133 

PAPISTS   AND  QUAKERS   OBSTACLES  TO  EPISOOPALIANISM  IN 

MARYLAND. 

In  a  '■'■Letter  From  the  Maryland  Clergy  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Port 
Annapolis,  May  18th  1696"  the  Protestant  Episcopal  clergy  declared: 

•'When  his  Excellence  Governor  Nicholson,  came  into  the  Country  in 
the  year  1694  there  were  but  3  Clergymen  in  Episcopal  Orders,  besides  five 
or  six  popish  priests  who  had  perverted  divers  idle  people  from  the  Protest- 
ant Religion." 

But  notwithstanding  that  small  provision  which  is  made  for  your  Lord- 
ships Clergy  and  the  precariousness  and  great  uncertainty  of  the  tenure  of 
what  we  have,  the  papists  and  the  Quakers  (of  both  which  there  are  some  of 
the  richest  men  in  the  province,  are  much  dissatisfied.         .... 

Any  yet  we  have  lately  received  very  certain  advice  from  London,  that 
those  of  our  Quakers  that  went  for  England  in  the  last  Maryland  and 
Virginia  fleet  have  petitioned  the  Lords  of  the  Committtee  of  trade  and 
foreign  Plantations  to  have  the  401b.  Pr.  poll  taken  off  as  burden  upon  their 
estate  and  (as  we  suppose  they  might  pretend)  upon  their  consciences  too. 

Could  the  Quakers  clear  themselves  of  the  401b.  Pr.  poll  the  papists 
might  all  pretend  to  do  so  too,  because  they  have  Priests  of  their  own  to 
provide  for  and  could  both  these  effect  their  designs  the  Clergy  and  Church 
of  England  would  be  left  in  a  very  naked  and  poor  condition  here  besides 
that  we  might  expect  many  that  have  their  religion  still  to  chose,  would 
turn  either  Papists  or  Quakers  and  refuse  to  pay  too  for  many  of  them  look 
upon  the  Sacraments  as  needless  impositions  and  go  neither  to)  the  Papist's 
Mass  nor  the  Quakers  meetings,  and  seldom  or  ever  go  to  Church.     -    -    - 

May  it  please  your  Lordship  as  far  removed  as  the  Papists  and  Quakers 
seem  to  be  in  their  different  sentiments  about  religion  they  are  jointly  bent 
against  our  Church  and  daily  endeavor  to  draw  people  to  their  parties  by 
suggesting  to  them  that  the  Lord  Baltimore  will  govern  here  again  than 
which  nothing  can  be  more  pleasing  news  to  libertines  and  loose  persons 
who  can  seldom  or  never  be  gotten  to  come  to  Church  at  all. 

And  should  my  Lord  rule  as  formerly  the  insolence  of  the  Romish  priests 
(who  are  somewhat  curbed  by  his  Excellency's  great  care  and  vigilance) 
would  soon  be  intolerable  in  these  parts  that  are  so  remote  from  England. 

Besides  their  being  great  numbers  of  Irish  Papists  brought  continually 
into  this  province  and  many  Irish  priests  being  suspected  to  be  coming 
incognito  amongst  us  (as  having  no  better  place  of  refuge  in  the  King's 
dominions)  upon  their  being  banished  from  Ireland,  there  is  great  reason  to 
fear  there  will  be  as  much  discouragement  and  danger  coming  upon  all  his 
Majesty's  good  Protestant  subjects  as  upon  the  English  Clergy. 

This  expectation  of  the  Lord  Baltimore  being  restored  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  Maryland,  animates  the  Priests  and  Jesuits  to  begin  already  to  in- 
veigle several  ignorant  people  to  turn,  To  their  religion  to  which  end  they  do 
(contrary  to  the  Act  of  Parliament  to  deter  them  from  perverting  any  of 
his  Majesty's  protestant  subjects  to  popery  )  introduce  themselves  into  the 
company  of  the  sick  when  they  have  no  ministers,  that  his  Excellency  hath 
been  lately  forced  to  issue  out  his  proclamation  against  their  so  doing  to 
restrain  them. — His.  Mag.  March  1S6S  p.  1513. 


134  AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   HISTORICAL,  RESEARCHES. 

EEV-  JOHN  EI000,  CIGAE  MA.KEE  IN  PHILADELPHIA  AND  PLANTEE 

IN  ALABAMA. 


During  the  Constitutional  movement  in  Spain  in  1812.  Rev.  John  Ricco 
was  one  of  those  who  took  part  in  that  struggle  for  national  Indepen- 
dence. 

On  its  failure  he  was  imprisoned.  Richard  W.  Meade  of  Philadelphia, 
father  of  General  G.  Meade,  the  Victor  of  Gettysburg,  was  United  States 
Consul  at  Cadiz,  He  aided  Rev.  John  Ricco  in  escaping  from  prison  to  the 
United  States.  Father  Ricco  arrived  in  New  York  in  the  Fall  of  1816,  He 
came  to  Philadelphia  and  joined  his  companion  in  the  Revolutionary  effort, 
the  Rev.  Don  Jose  Codina,  who  had  likewise  fled  to  this  country  for  safety. 

While  in  Philadelphia  both  earned  a  livelihood  by  making  cigars.  We 
have  not  traced  the  career  of  Rev.  Codina  but  Rev.  John  Ricco  remained 
in  Philadelphia  until  November  1817  when  he  joined  the  settlers  on  the 
French  grant  in  Alabama  Territory.  Congress  by  Act  March  3d  1817  grant- 
ed four  townships  in  Mississippi  Territory  ''To  encourage  the  cultivation  of 
the  vine  and  olive." 

An  association  was  orgauized  and  the  land  divided  into  lots  of  from  80 
to  480  acres.  The  land  selected  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Demopolis  in  Marengo 
and  Greene  counties,  Alabama. 

Among  the  French  emigrants  are  said  to  have  been  Marshall  Grouchy, 
General  Le  Febre  Desnouettes  who  was  the  Commander  of  the  cavalry  of  the 
Imperial  Guard  of  France,  General  L'  Allemand  Commander  of  the  Artil- 
lery (who  died  at  Bordentown  N.  J.  16th  September  1823  (?)  and  is  buried  in 
Holv  Trinity  grave  yard  corner  Sixth  and  Spruce,  Philadelphia.)  General 
Clausel  who  commanded  the  city  of  Bordeaux  and  afterwards  became  Gov- 
ernor of  Algeria,  Col.  Raoul  who  commanded  the  advance  guard  of  200  men 
when  Napoleon  reach  Grenoble  on  his  return  from  Elba  and  many  others 
known  to  fame.  —  {Distinguished  Men  of  the  South.  Philadelphia,  1881 
Sketch  of   Hon.  Geo.  N.  Stewart.) 

Among  the  grantees  were  Marshall  Grouchy,  the  hero  of  Linden  and  in 
1839  Minister  of  War  in  France,  Generals  Lefebre  Desnouette,  Lieut. 
Gen.  distinguished  in  all  the  battles  of  Napoleon, Gen.  Count  Clausel,  Gen, 
Count  Real,  the  two  Generals  L'  Allemand,    and    Generals    Vandamme, 


rev.  .ioiin  ricco.  135 

Lakanal,  Pennier  and  Gamier  de  Saintes.  The  colony  was  located  on  the 
Tombeckbee  river  in  what  is  now  Marengo  Co.  They  established  two  vil- 
lages Demopolis  and  Eaglesville  on  the  Black  Warrior  River.  Also  the 
villages  of  Linden  and  Areola  (Romantic  Passages  in  Southwestern  History. 
By  A.  B.  Meek.     Mobile  1857  p.  37.) 

The  late  Mark  A.  Frenaye  of  Philadelphia  if  not  among  the  settlers  was 
a  lot  holder  at  Demopolis.  From  his  Correspondence  now  in  The  American 
Catholic  Historical  Society  of  Philadelphia  we  learn  that  as  early  as  1835 
W.  Armistead  had  written  John  M.  Chapron  to  get  Mr.  Frenaye  to  send  to 
the  General  Land  Office  at  Washington  the  deed  of  conveyance  or  transfer- 
or title  of  Trnbard  to  S.  W.  quarter  of  section  27  Township  19,  range  4, 
East :  The  land  was  conveyed  to  Bishop  Portier  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Catholic  Church  of  Mobile  and  was  sold  to  Armistead.  On  September  2d 
1852  Bishop  Portier  wrote  Mr.  Frenaye  about  the  title  to  the  lot  he  had  given 
for  a  Church  at  Demopolis  to  be  called  St.  Mark. 

Among  others  who  went  from  Philadelphia  and  vicinity  to  the  Alabama 
settlement  was  Mrs.  Helen  Le  Boutellier  and  her  son  George  Noble  Stewart, 
by  a  former  marriage  with  Capt.  Noble  Stewart,  U.  S.  N.  Their  son  was 
born  at  Burlington,  N.  J.  26th  July  1799  and  was  christened,  it  is  stated 
"in  the  Catholic  Church  at  Philadelphia."  Mrs.  Stewart  (Helen  Counsel) 
had  been  married  at  Cadiz,  Spain  to  Capt.  Stewart,  She  became  one  of  the 
emigrants  to  the  new  settlement.  Whether  she  and  Rev.  John  Ricco  had 
known  each  other  in  Philadelphia  or  not  we  have  not  been  able  to  discover. 
However  in  the  new  settlement  their  intimacy  became  so  strong  that  they 
were  married  by  Basil  Meslier  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Demopolis. 

Rieco's  land  was  No.  18,  Township  18  Range  3  East,  containing  12 
acres.  It  is  about  a  mile  from  Demopolis  in  the  Northeast  corner  near  the 
Warrior  River. 

Ricco  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  fine  vines  of  Spain  and  of  the  olive. 
He  was  known  in  Alabama  as  "General''  Ricco. 

In  the  meantime  political  agitation  had  subsided  in  Spain  and  Ricco 
was  confirmed  in  title  granted  him  by  the  Junta  of  Valencia,  that  of  Vicar 
General  of  the  Armies,  with  the  salary  thereto. 

So  on  October  20th  1S19,  desiring  to  return  to  Spain,  he  applied  through 
Mr.  Arrieta,  attorney,  for  a  payment  on  account  of  salary  due   him   since 


136  AMERICAN  CATHOLTC   HISTORICAL  RESEARCHES 

1814.  He  asked  for  $900  or  $1000 so  as  to  enable  him  to returu.  The  King 
of  Spain  ordered  that  salary  due  since  28th  May  1813  should  be  allowed  him 
and  $1000  sent  him .  Ricco  then  left  his  Alabama  -vineyard  aud  wife 
"without  giving  any  cause  for  it"  in  1821.  On  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia 
in  April  1821  his  friend  Richard  W.  Meade,  who  was  the  leader  of  the 
Trustees  in  the  Con  well-Harold- Hogan  schism  at  St.  Mary's  church,  en- 
deavored to  instal  Ricco  as  pastor  of  the  Church.  Ricco  seems  not  to  have 
been  desirious  of  this  save  to  do  a  service  desired  by  his  friend. 

In  May  1821  was  issued  by  Rev.  Wm.  Hogan,  "The  Opinion  of  Et.  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Rico  of  the  Order  of  St.  Francis  D.  D.,  and  Vicar  General  of  the 
Armies  of  Spain,  on  the  Differences  existing  between  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
Conwell  and  Rev.  Wm.  Hogan,  Relative  to  the  Canons  quoted  by  him  and 
their  application  in  support  of  his  Claims  to  St.  Mary's  Church,  with  other 
Documents."  pp.  11,  8  vo. 

It  spoke  of  Rico  as  "a  foreign  clergyman  of  high  rank  and  respectabili- 
ty, then  on  his  return  to  Spain  and  enjoying  the  high  rank  of  Vicar  General 
of  all  the  armies  of  Spain  to  which  he  had  been  recalled  by  the  governor  of 
that  country."  Hogan  submitted  to  Rico  certain  questions  "which  might 
tend  to  allay  the  acrimony  which  existed  in  the  mind  of  some  individuals 
who  supposed  that  opposition  to  a  Bishop,  however  just  the  cause,  was  an 
unpardonable  offence." 

The  answers  all  justified  the  course  of  Hogan. 

The  queries  were  made  in  writing  at  the  house  of  John  Leamy  on  night 
of  May  2d, 1821  and  the  answers  were"taken  down  in  the  Spanish  language" 
by  Leamy  as  he  certified. 

R.  W.  Meade  certified  also  that  Rico  was  well  known  to  him.  "I  have 
the  most  perfect  confidence  in  his  knowledge  and  experience  as  a  Catholic 
clergyman  ;  I  have  been  intimately  acquainted  with  him  for  ten  years,  aided 
and  assisted  him  in  leaving  Spain  wher^  ne  was  persecuted  on  political  mo- 
tives and  not  from  any  other  cause  ;  I  have  been  duly  notified  from  Madrid 
of  his  reestablishment  as  Vicar  General  and  that  funds  were  remitted  by 
the  Government  of  Spain  and  paid  me  by  Louis  Clapier  Esq.  of  this  city  for 
the  purpose  of  paying  his  expenses  back  to  that  country  ;  that  Rico  declined 
being  made  a  Bishop  several  years  ago  when  it  was  offered  him."  So  certi- 
fied May  7th  1821. 


REV.  JOHN  RICCO.  137 

Rev.  William  V.  Harold,  who  did  the  pamphleting  of  the  controversy 
on  the  part  of  "the  Bishopites"  in  October  1823  in  "An  Address  to  the 
Roman  Catholics  of  Philadelphia"  charged  the  rebellious  Trustees  with  put- 
ting Ricco,a  mairied  priest,  into  the  pastorship.  The  Trustees,  on  Ricco's 
denial  of  having  married,  denied  the  charge,  and  under  date  of  Oct.  15th, 
1823,  Henry  Toland,  John  Leamy,  Louis  Clapier,  Juan  Cardeza,  John 
Vaugh,  Jos  Gardette  certified  that  Ricco  was  a  worthy  and  honorable  man. 
in  this  country  and  in  Spain. 

This  was  followed  by  the  "Continuation  of  Address  to  the  Roman 
Catholics  of  Philadelphia,"  Nov.  15th  1823,  by  R.  W.  Meade.  It  asked 
"Can  the  Vicar  general  and  his  anonymous  coadjutor  bring  any  proof  of 
Mr.  Ricco's  marriage  ?  This  gentleman  on  my  questioning  him  relative  to 
a  report  of  this  nature  in  circulation,  solemnly  denied  it,  in  the  presence  of 
several  respectable  persons  in  this  city  prior  to  his  departure  for  Europe. 
On  this  assertion,  Mr.  Harold  stands  publicly  convicted  of  falsehood  and 
slander."  [p.  38.] 

At  this  time  (1823)  Ricco  was  in  Spain,  having  sailed  May  4th  1821  in 
the  brig  Rose,  Capt.  Tubby,  for  Gibraltar.  On  his  arrival  at  Madrid  he 
was  restored  to  his  position  as  Vicar  General  of  the  Armies  and  the  Arch- 
bishopric of  Valencia  being  vacant  he  was  appointed  its  Vicar  General  and 
Governor  of  the  Archbishopric.  He  was  paid  all  arrearages  and  elected  a 
Depaty  in  the  Cortes  from  Monovar  in  Valencia  and,  when  his  character 
was  being  questioned  in  Philadelphia  in  1823,  was  then  acting  as  Deputy, 

Our  investigations,  made  in  1887,  convince  us  that  Rico  mairied  the 
widow  Stewart  Le  Boutellier.  We  gathered  the  recollections  of  those  then 
living  who  knew  him  and  of  others  who  knew  by  family  tradition  of  him. 
[These  letters  will  be  deposited  with  the  American  Catholic  Historical  So  - 
ciety.]     His  step-son  Hon  George  W.  Stewart,  died  June  4th  1882. 


*'C&r^/. 


'S>t 


138  AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   HISTORICAL   RESEARCHES. 

REPLIES. 

Augusta,  Ga.  April  18,  1890. 

In  Researches  of  April  1890,  is  given  a  note  of  the  funeral  expenses  of 
Stephen  Girard.  1  was  an  altar  bey  at  Trinity  Church  at  the  time  of 
Girard's  death  and  was  one  of  the  boys  to  serve  at  the  funeral. 

My  understanding  at  the  time  and  now  is, that  Bishop  Kenrick  had  given 
permission  for  Mr.  Girard  to  be  buried  by  the  Clergy  provided  the  Masons 
would  come  into  the  Church  without  their  regalias. 

Francis  Cooper  (who  in  after  years  became  a  Catholic,)  was  in  charge  Of 
them.  He  refused  to  take  off  their  Regalias  and  went  into  the  church  with 
them.  Therefore  the  funeral  ceremonies  of  the  Catholic  Church  were  not 
performed.  The  Masons  after  waiting  some  time  took  the  corpse  out  of  the 
church  and  placed  it  in  the  same  grave  with  Robert  Joe  on  the  northern  side 
of  the  church.  When  they  were  at  the  grave,  I,  with  other  altar  boys,  was 
on  the  steps  leading  up  to  the  organ  loft  ;  the  steps  at  that  time  were  in  the 
north-west  corner  of  the  church.  I  frequently  heard  my  parents  talk  it 
over  as  I  have  stated.  Mr.  Cooper's  family  were  Catholics.  He  was  not, 
but  on  one  of  his  birth  days  went  to  Emmittsburg  on  a  retreat  and  thus 
was  received  into  the  Church.  Either  Father  Vanderbraak  or  Guth  was 
pastor  of  Holy  Trinity  at  that  time.  1  think  it  was  Father  Guth  as  Father 
Vanderbraak  was  a  confirmed  invalid. 

About  F.  M.  Drexel  having  a  bill  for  crape.  I  think  that  is  simply  a 
mistake,  as  Mr.  Drexel  was  a  portrait-painter,  and  I  know  that  my  uncle, 
Jos  Malsburger,  who  was  at  that  time  adrygoods  merchant  on  Second  Street 
(I  believe  he  was  also  a  trustee  at  Holy  Trinity,)  furnished  the  crape  for  the 
occasion.  Geo.  S.  Hookey. 

We  give  herewith  a  copy  of  the  bill  of  funeral  expenses. 

Funeral  expenses  of  Stephen  Girard.  Extracted  from  the  Executors' 
accounts  filed  in  the  Office  of  Wills. 

Mary  Kenton.     Mourning  bonnets  for  Hannah,  $     4.00 

Sexton's  fees.     Interment  of  the  remains  of  S.  Girard,  37.50 

Mourning  bonnets  for  Mrs.  Kelsey  and  Mrs.  Taylor,  6.27 

A.  O'Neal.     Labor  for  preparing  tomb  of  S.  Girard,  20.00 

L.  A.  Sexton.    Mourning  suit  for  Charles  Simpson,  38.00 

F.  M.  Drexel.    For  bill  crape  used  at  Trinity  Church,  119,24 

J.  Anderson.    City  watchman  for  mourning  suit  for  funeral,  42.50 

L.  W.  Mirlin                   do                   do                   do  40.00 

J.  Leatherman                 do                   do                   do  40.00 

H.McCormick                do                  do                   do  43.50 

J.  Plaider.     Putting  up  crape  in  Trinity  Church,  5.00 

C.  B.  Comby.     Maki  g  coffin  for  the  remains,  150.00 

Mrs.  Biddle.     Laying  out  the  body  and  attendance,  40.00 


